Dining Over the Divide: A Encounter Between Different Perspectives
Meeting the Participants
First Participant: Peter, 34, London
Profession Former government employee, currently a student focusing on community health
Political history Voted the Green Party recently (and a member of the political group); previously Labour. Identifies as “left, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup he created as a kid was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the UK for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also universal, because human life largely evolve similarly across the world. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.
The second participant We split appetizers – fishy spring rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We bonded over our affection for the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. With a small amount, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He used an analogy about salt. It would be odd to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. Nobody forces you to go to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with certain details. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, application costs are really high, there is an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anyone. And concerning the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a degree of compassion.
Common ground
Akshat Peter questions unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter believes that because the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay compensation to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; times are different, modern people were not responsible of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to do that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonization isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly with opinions are contrary to mine. It’s about bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I didn’t persuade him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in future.
